Movies: Past, present and future

Alvin and the Chipmunks closes in on its ringleader

October 26, 2010 | 6:52pm

EXCLUSIVE: The third Alvin & the Chipmunks film may wind up looking a little like the fourth Shrek movie.

That's because Mike Mitchell, the filmmaker behind "Shrek Forever After," is now in negotiations to direct the new installment in the live-action / animated franchise, according to several sources familiar with the project.

With a production start date just 10 weeks away, the third movie in the cartoon-creature franchise has been hurriedly searching for a director ever since "Private Parts" filmmaker Betty Thomas passed on the job. Mitchell, in addition to "Shrek," also worked on "Monsters vs. Aliens" and "Kung Fu Panda." Fox could not immediately be reached for comment.

The new Chipmunks movie, set for release next December, may or may not be shot in 3-D. It is, however, expected to involve the chipmunks getting shipwrecked, and its let's-fast-forward-the-tape-recorder songs are sure to once again enchant your kids while driving you crazy.